Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting (5E & Pathfinder)
Created by Rusted Portal Games
Battle undead and demonic horrors ravaging post-apocalyptic Earth 25 years after the Rise. DnD Fifth Edition (5E) & Pathfinder RPG.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Apocalypse the Risen: PF & 5E Status Check
about 3 years ago
– Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 01:29:42 PM
Hello Backers, Friends, and Fans (All of whom we call Survivors!):
We hope this message finds you all healthy and well during these crazy times. The Rusted Portal team remains healthy and working to deliver all aspects of Apocalypse the Risen. We have been busy moving all aspects of the company, the Worlds of the Portal multiverse, and Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting material, forward to better serve your interests in enjoying these games. Below is a quick update:
Pathfinder Print: We remain unable to reach Paizo for license compatibility approval. We are confident we meet all of their requirements, which is why we released the PDF. However, we cannot go to print until we have their approval. We remain ready and available to sign the printer to contract and move this print forward as soon as we have that green light. Timing is ultimately TBD based on when Paizo offices are fully open and available to review licensee submissions. This is a result of the pandemic shutdown of offices in Washington State.
Pathfinder PDF on DriveThruRPG: If you have received your copy of the game and like what we've designed, please lease us a 5-star review. Positive comments are also greatly appreciated. We are proud of the final product and hope you love it, too. Your help in telling others is critical and we couldn't thank you enough!
5E PDF and Print: We continue to make great progress in development for the 5E version of AtR. Chad has two chapters left to put into playtest, which puts us in great shape to maintain the timeline we've discussed in the last few updates. Development of the insanity system, mutation mechanics, and the multiverse have just recently been moved forward in development and we are very happy with how they are working. We plan to deliver the printed 5E AtR Campaign Setting by November.
Adventures: The Rusted Portal crew is also busy getting a number of adventures ready for delivery. We are working on updates and finalizing the three adventures unlocked during the Kickstarter ("Dead in the Darklands", "Demon Divided", and "Endless Descent"). Additionally, we will be releasing an updated version of "What's Cooking?" in fully illustrated PDF on DriveThruRPG sometime in July. Each of these games will include pre-gen characters should you just wish to play as level appropriate one-offs.
Truth Transmissions: If that doesn't sound like enough for the time being, the crew has also framed out the goals for the Truth Transmission podcast. Backers unlocked 12 episodes during the social media campaign. Each episode will run 10-15 mins recorded. These are in-world pirate radio broadcasts by operator Truth and others that have picked up the moniker. Truth broadcasts rumors (new adventure hooks) from around the world, shares detailed accounts of events (creatures, locations), and interviews other people within the world to share their stories (world narrative and adventure source material). The big picture goal for the podcast is to publish weekly, creating an immersive game session and providing additional campaign material with lots of narrative and Easter eggs.
Thank you again for your support and sticking with us as we crunched to move Apocalypse the Risen into publication. There are funds available to print, so rest assured as soon as we have all the required pieces in place we will print and ship your beautiful hardcover books!
Sincerely,
Donaven - Rusted Portal Games
AtR: Full Survey Sent!
over 3 years ago
– Thu, Jun 04, 2020 at 04:47:52 PM
Hello Faithful Backers!
The smoke test went according to plan and the surveys are working as intended. No hiccup means the full survey list just went out to all backers.
Please take a moment when you can over the coming days and complete your survey. Once complete, we will lock your survey and process. We WILL leave the shipping address open until we are closer to delivery to make sure we have your correct address at that time.
The survey is pretty simple, but please do take a look at the add-ons. We have some great supporting content that the lower tiers can acquire and a couple really awesome design options as well. We have a lot of content after all this time (hides in momentary shame for slow delivery) but as promised you will be rewarded for your patience with ongoing content. And the add-ons allow you to be involved!
We look forward to impressing you and hope to hear feedback as you get content in your grasp.
Apocalypse the Risen Survey: Smoke Test
over 3 years ago
– Tue, Jun 02, 2020 at 09:14:45 AM
Greetings Survivors!
This is just a quite notice to inform you that we will be running a smoke test on the BackerKit survey shortly. That means that about 5% of backers across all levels will receive an email directing them to complete their survey. So... let's see if this is working correctly!
Within the next week or so, considering the results of the test, we will roll out the full survey to everyone. We are comfortable with the progress and pricing, so we are ready to get you all onboard and updated.
The surveys are pretty simply, we aren't capturing any complex choices but you do have a number of options. Please browse around, see what you may be interested in, and ask any questions you may have. We are really stoked on the progress and plans for delivering on your fantastic support.
Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting (Pathfinder PDF)
over 3 years ago
– Sat, May 30, 2020 at 10:07:33 PM
Greetings Survivors!
This is an additional notification to let you know we have published an updated version of the AtR PF Campaign Setting. You should have received an email from DriveThruRPG letting you know a new version has been added. Whether you received that email or not, you can log into your DTRPG account and download the updated (3.2) version.
We were deep in scrubbing the PDF for any typos or needs prior to going to print. All of those corrections have been made in this update, including a missing chart in the Colony Creation section. (SO IMPORTANT!)
Regarding the Pathfinder print, we are currently awaiting approval from Paizo for the compatibility license. Covid-19 is problematic as typically digital copies are reviewed after a physical delivery. We are trying to work around that requirement as we speak. We expect the printer contract to be finalized within the week.
The 5E conversion is nearly complete. All chapters have been finalized with an additional pass underway before playtesting restarts. We are presently on track to hold our November 2020 delivery schedule. Obviously there's a lot going on in the world, we are hopeful things get better for everyone sooner than later.
Stay safe!
Donaven - Rusted Portal Games
AtR Campaign Setting: Pathfinder PDF Published!
over 3 years ago
– Fri, May 08, 2020 at 05:56:51 PM
Greetings, Survivors!
First and foremost, we hope this email finds you safe and healthy during these crazy pandemic times. The wellbeing of your colony is of utmost importance to us. We have been working hard to protect our colony while developing your manual to the apocalypse.
TL:DL – DELIVERY! Before delving deep on the production and publication calendar, we want to make sure you are aware we have officially published the Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting Pathfinder Compatible edition PDF on DriveThruRPG.
If you are scheduled to receive the Pathfinder version PDF and you have not already done so, check your email for a DriveThruRPG exclusive download link to redeem your free PDF!
If you cannot find that email and are supposed to have received the PATHFINDER PDF, send us an email and we will send you your unique code. You will need to communicate in your email the email address that you use specifically for KICKSTARTER!
We are so excited to finally see a completed PDF reach publication and hope you find that it exceeds all the lofty expectations we have continued to pitch. We feel comfortable putting this product side-by-side with the big companies of the industry. And we are far from done. So thank you again for your continued support, encouragement, and interest!
* Please look over your PDF and if you love it, post a review on DriveThruRPG. It means the world to us and will absolutely help promote future products you can enjoy.
* If you really love it, tell your friends they should pick it up as well!
* If you find any typos or things we have overlooked in the PDF, send us an EMAIL and let me know. We can get it corrected before we go to print.
* Head over to the BackerKit Pre-Sale page. We have updated EVERYTHING to include actual art and descriptions wherever possible. If there is something you did not back but would like to have, buy now. We have also updated prices on the adventures just for the pre-sale!
* Especially send your fellow gamer friends over to the pre-sale and get in on these Kickstarter materials now! We think you’re going to love the content, so tell somebody!
* A few backers at the Legend and Antiquity levels still have not submitted their handles. We will make yours up if we don’t have them soon.
Also note – We have added back in the Colony Builder add-on. This will be included in the next book, Apocalypse the Risen: Campaign Expansion 1. We have so much content and lots of lead time to work with backers to build these colonies and include. You have a great chance to be a game designer in this world and have your home campaign colony in the book. We are looking at Q1 2021 to launch this Kickstarter… with a much faster production calendar. ;)
AtR: Pathfinder Edition Print Schedule:
We are ready to go to print! 432 glorious full color pages in a hardback cover (or ‘leather’ for some of you)!
We are currently negotiating with our preferred printer to bring Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting to you in hardcover format. We found a fantastic European printer for which we are incredibly happy with the quality (as delivered by a fellow Publisher we backed on Kickstarter). We expect to finalize an agreement before the end of the month and go to print.
We have not yet locked down the turnaround time on the print job at this time. However, we believe we should still see a roughly 30 day process. We are requested a few physical copy reviews throughout the process, which requires international shipping. The biggest delay on time will be the slow boat delivery back to the states, but that is the price of doing business internationally.
At this time, we are hopeful to receive the full shipment and deliver to backers by the end of July. That timeline could shift into August based on shipping and necessary corrections. We are also hopeful the impact of covid-19 does not strengthen here or in the country where we are printing.
---> AtR Pathfinder PDF: DELIVERED!
---> Target AtR Pathfinder Deliver: July 2020/August 2020
AtR 5E Edition:
Designer and rules guru Chad Matson is hard at work transferring all final documents from Pathfinder to 5E and updating rules. Most chapters are updated with 2nd or 3rd pass design changes. Final touches are being put into the bestiary presently, with more time needed on colony design and the multiverse. Much of that will be new rules for 5E, which we are excited about!
In the coming weeks as we send Pathfinder off to the printer, the full team will transition to playtesting the present 5E build. Playtesting by friends and backers has taken a hit with conventions being shut down for quarantine purposes. We thank our backers for staying safe and protecting others. Recognize it does impact our schedule, but we are working effectively in a remote environment.
Chad has also taken to climbing the steep learning curve of roll20 so we can host remote playtests more effectively (Discord and Zoom work, just not comprehensively). The more playtesting we can accomplish, the quicker we can run the content through editing and ultimately layout.
On that note, if you have interest in running playtests via roll20 or have experience in building out a roll20 adventure, send us an email. We for sure want to discuss. Thank you in advance to our existing Game and Dungeon Masters for keeping the fires burning at conventions for as long as you could. If you’ve got skills on digital gaming or just want to engage with us on the subject, send us an email. We take care of our contributors! :)
Regardless, development has been steady and progressive. We have the following targets for 5E delivery.
---> Target AtR 5E PDF Delivery: September/October
---> Target AtR 5E Print Delivery: October/November
We have learned a tremendous amount on how to actually publish a game. We knew we had a great idea and an eye for good art. Now we know what it takes to bring that all together. So with that, here are the future plans for the company as we move forward in producing games for you to enjoy. We hope to have you all back and see you at tables in the future (either in person or online).
* Hardback books will be sold direct on the (in progress) new Rusted Portal website
* Campaign book PDFs will be sold exclusively through DriveThruRPG
* Adventure series ePub books will be sold exclusively through Amazon
* Future products will again launch on Kickstarter to fund publishing – we will Kickstart when we are much further along in design going forward
* We will launch a Patreon account with exclusive access to Truth Transmissions, design discussions, and influence on future products
Bottom Line:
We are bringing you all of the Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting products you backed and expected. They are going to be everything we have promised and more. And we hope you find it worth the time and frustration in waiting on what you backed. We couldn’t appreciate you more and look forward to building on the colony we’ve started.
Thank you again and keep an eye out for more in the coming months. Reach out with any related topics from above. And above all, stay safe and sane in your battle against the Darkness.
